Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-10-27
MARGARET COLEMAN.
How This Brave Irishwomau SAVED seere-
tary Seward.s Life.

tary Seward's Life.
Among Mr. Summers servants the
one whom he most highly valued was
an elderly Irish woman, Margaret
Coleman. She was his housekeeper
for the last two years. and now be-
comes historic character.
Prior to entering Mr. Summers serv.
ice Margaret was of the household OF
William 81. Seward. When, on the
18th of April, 1865. the night of the as
sassination of President Lincoln. an at
tempt was made on the life of Mr..
Seward, she was one of those in charge
Of his room, he then being confined to
his bed from the effects of fall from
his carriage Payne, the would-be as
sassin, was met by Mr.. Frederick Sew
ard at the head of the stairs. After
wounding him. severely and ieav;ng Q
him seemingly dead, Payne passed
over his body TO reach the room of his
father. The noise had notified Mar
garet, who was in her own room on the
story above, of Payne's approach, and
his object. As Payne entered the sick
room, Robinson, the male nurse, then
there, confronted him. Payne struck
Robinson TO the ground with his knife,
and then sprang at the Secretary
Mr.. Seward was in a half-sitting
posture, leaning his back against
a sick-chair placed in the bed for
his support. Realizing Payne's object,
he pulled the bed clothing over his head
for his protection. Payne struck him
a number of times. One blow was so
well aimed that it passed through the
bed clothes, through his cheek into his
neck on the right side, and another on
the left side cut his neck.
Meantime all this was passing quicker
than it can be told. Margaret had
sprung upon him from behind, and
Robinson had gathered himself up
sufficiently to confront the assassin.
Major A. II. Seward, Miss Fannie
Seward and some of the servants of the
were now entering the room.
and Payne fought his way out from
among them. Margaret was struck in
he face, apparently by Payne's
clenched fist, so that her face was
painful and discolored for some time,
and she was hurled against the door
lamb with such force as to break her
collar-bone. Major Seward was slightly
cut in several places. But none of the
women except Margaret was in any
injured. Payne, after cutting his way
out. mounted his horse and escaped.
Meantime Mr.. Seward had apparently
and for moment
it was thought that the as
sassin had thrown him out of
the window. He had. however. rolled
himself in his bed clothing, and fallen
between the bed and the wall, but was
so suspended by the clothing that he
had not reached the floor. Margaret
pulled him up, unrolled him, now
nearly smothered in the blankets and
the blood, and assisted in doing what
was necessary before she found out
how much she herself was injured. She
however, sufficiently to con-
tinue to act rs head nurse to Secretary
Seward, to Mr.. Frederick Seward and
Mrs. Seward, who never recovered
from the shock of that night, and who
died in Margaret's arms, and, finally.
as nurse to Miss Fannie Seward. She
saw her pass away within the year.
When Mr.. Fish succeeded Mr.. Seward
as Secretary of State, he took certain
of the Seward servants, who agreed to
stay with him until Mrs. Fish brought
her own establishment to Washington.
So Margaret remained with the new
Secretary of State for six months, and
then went to Mr.. Sumner. with whom
she remained until his death. The ar
was particularly agreeable
to the ladies whom Mr.. Sumner re-
ceived, as most of them had been ac-
customed to her friendly ministrations
when visiting at the Seward and Fish
ho1IcoS - Gno,aan,aolikra1